Home of the world’s Best TapangKarneng Kalabaw, which is also known as “PINDANG” in native language. Yes! I am talking about the magnificent town of MANGALDAN. The town of Mangaldan is one of the oldest towns in the province of Pangasinan. Historical documents reveal that it was actually the third parish (after Binalatongan, now San Carlos and Calasiao) founded by the Dominican Missionaries. The Founding of Mangaldan as a parish was attributed to Fr. Juan Sto. Domingo, although the exact date remains uncertain. Historical Documents show that it was founded June, 1600 when Mangaldan was accepted as new parish in the vicariate of the Dominican Provincial Chapter, placed under the patronage of one of the Dominican Order’s greatest glories, St. Thomas Aquinas. HOW MANGALDAN GOT ITS NAME.
 There are four version as to how Mangaldan got its name. The first version relates that one day a Spanish missionary inquired from one inhabitant about the name of the place in the Spanish Language. Thinking that the missionary was asking for water, the inhabitant replied, “MANGAALAY-ADAN”, which means “Adan is fetching”.
The second version states that Mangaldan got its name from the first native chief of the town named “BABALDAN”. The third version says that just at the middle of the plaza was a big mango tree laden with fruits. It was customary that anyone of the town’s inhabitant s was f ree to gather fruit s but it resulted in quarreling among themselves. The meaning of the quarrel in dialect is “MAN-NGA-NGALNGALAN” when stated in plain word gave rise to “MANGALDAN”
The Fourth Version of how Mangaldan got its name is attributed to Fr. Raymundo Suarez, OP. In his more than a century year old manuscript “Apuntes Cureosos de Pangasinan”, it was stated that “MANGALDAN” was derived from the root word “ALAR” OR “ALAD” which is interposed between the particles of “MANG” and “AN”
 In the Pangasinan dialect, “ALAR” or “ALAD” signifies a fence made of bamboo or of any similar material.
However, the word is syncopated suppressing the penultimate “A” and what remains alone is “MANGALDAN”. Mangaldan existed as a ranch in its beginning and the presence of bamboo fences in the place will have given rise to the town’s appelliation which accordingly justifies Fr. Suarez’s version.
The political evolution of Mangaldan has been greatly shaped by Spaniards who ran the affairs of the town. In 1727, Mangaldan was a Spanish pueblo and Mapandan was annexed to it as a barrio from 1903-1908. It was also in 1727, when a decree was issued by the Spanish authorities, which allowed Filipinos a hand in running the affairs of the local governments.
THE PATRON SAINT OF MANGALDAN
Saint Thomas is one of the most famous saints of the Catholic Church. He is called a “Doctor of the Church”. He was a theologian, and philosopher. A theologian is someone who spends their life thinking about Jesus life. They figure out things about God and catholic faith through prayer and study. Theologians helped everyone learn about God. Saint Thomas Aquinas is the Patron Saint of Mangaldan. Â
